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Don't worry; we haven't forgotten Operation Greatest American Magazine Launch. (Some of us keep our announced launch skeds, not that we're raising our eyebrow at anyone in particular.) And speaking of schedules, let's take a look back at the major milestones on the road to Radar. What a long, strange trip it's been:

· May 2001: Maer Roshan leaves New York HQ at 444 Madison and heads to his more natural habitat of Chelsea, home to Talk magazine, where he has been named editorial director.

· January 2002: Talk closes. Maer is among the last to know.

· March 2002: First media mentions of Maer's new project, Radar. Tabloid king David Pecker reportedly very interested in financing the new mag.

· May 2002: Ousted HBO chief Michael Fuchs reportedly interested in investing.

· June 2002: Pecker's American Media is still interested; he's said to be close to writing a $25M check. Also, there's reportedly another $12M from a "mysterious" source.

· July 2002: "I've green-lighted it," Pecker says, explaining that AMI will handle printing and distribution. But more funding is still needed.

A green light from a huge mag company? An additional mystery $12 million? Things are looking good. Or are they? Find out after the jump... JO

· October 2002: A CFO is hired. "We're launching in mid-March," he says.

· November 2002: Drew Lee leaves Us Weekly for Radar, the first reported editorial hire.

· January 2003: Pecker slips out. "Both parties evidenced sincere respect for each other's talents, but we could not come to terms on a timely basis," says AMI veep John Huges. Meantime, the Post says Roshan is days away from Fuchs' funding, the Observer suggests Steve Brill might want a piece, and the Post hints that Harvey Weinstein, despite denials, is considering an investment. Things move ahead: Radar has an office! Contributors announced, including Vanessa Grigoriadis, Jake Tapper, Mim Udovitch, Jonathan Van Meter, Toby Young. Launch now set for mid-April.

· March 2003: First reports of staff departures as some biz- and art-side folks drop of the radar.

· April 2003: First issue hits stands!

· May 2003: Uh-oh. Announcement: After second issue closes, the editorial staff will be furloughed till July 1. "That's been the plan all along," Roshan says. Also, box of shit, addressed to Maer and marked personal and confidential, arrives at office. Return address is Suge Knight.

· June 2003: Second issue hits stands! Staff furlough has begun. Shit is probably not from Knight; might be from Stuff prankster Greg Gutfield.

· July 2003: Staff furlough continues.

· August 2003: Staff furlough continues.

· Fall 2003: Staff furlough continues. Brit Felix Dennis, the man behind Maxim and The Week, among other titles, reportedly plans to invest, then reportedly pulls out at last minute.

· November-December 2003: The Coaltion, a big group of rich guys (including Miramax's Harvey Weinstein, adman Donny Deutsch, andnote the foreshadowingdeveloper/publisher Mort Zuckerman and financier Jeff Epstein, all brought together by media kibbitzer Michael Wolff, is considered a shoo-in to win the auction for New York magazine. Roshan's name floated as likely editor of the Coalition's New York.

· December 15, 2003: The Coalition doesn't get New York.

· January 2004: But the Coalition still likes Maer. Maybe they'll invest in Radar instead? Also, a mysterious foreigner is once again reportedly in the mix, this time a Frenchwoman

· May 2004: Now it's a mysterious Moroccan. "We have signed a term sheet," Maer says of the Moroccan.

· August 2004: Roshan guest-edits special issue of New York for GOP convention. Those few who still care wonder: Has he given up the Radar ghost?

· October 2004: No! He hasn't! Zuckerman and Epstein, formerly of the Coalition, agree to invest a reported $25M.

· January-February 2005: Radar 2.0 gets rolling. The mag moves into a new office"Radar's penthouse office," Roshan jokes to the Observerand starts announcing staffers. But are all the alleged contributors actually contributing? "I was not livid with Maer. I'm good friends with him, and I'm happy to be part of his brainstorming sessions. At some point, I may write for him, just not right now," Tina Brown tells the Post's Keith Kelly.

· April 11, 2005: The Times writes of Maer's great new discovery: The web! "Come the end of April, visitors to the Web site (www.radarmagazine.com) will be reintroduced to Radar, which its founders are trying to make irreverent, urban and fun," writes Katherine Seelye.

· April 25, 2005: In an e-mail to Gawker, Roshan disputes end-of-April web launch date. "The site begins its soft inhouse launch mid-week, when I get back, and should be open to the public ten days later, if all goes according to plan," he writes.

· May 2, 2005: Gawker launches ridiculously obsessive "The Greatest American Launch" feature, covering Radar's phoenix-like relaunch.

· May 6, 2005: Gawker publishes ridiculously obsessive timeline of Radar's history. Radar, for its part, continues to not launch radarmagazine.com.